Vaping: What you need to know

Vape indoors

When switching to e cigarettes, one of the most immediate benefits is the ability to vape indoors. Whereas smoking in enclosed public spaces has been banned across the UK over the past 10 years, the use of e-cigarettes is not affected by the same legislation.

At present, the use of e-cigarettes indoors is entirely permissible, though individual businesses and organisations may decide to set their own rules regarding the use of e-cigs on their property. In reality, this has led to some common-sense restrictions such as in schools and hospitals, though private businesses have in some cases elected to ban their use as well (several pub chains for example).

There are moves in the Welsh Assembly to write certain restrictions into law, though at the time of writing these have not been finalised. These are likely to cover the restrictions affecting schools and hospitals as discussed above.

For vapers, this freedom is one of the attractions of vaping, though common sense should be applied. If you plan on using your device in a pub, or restaurant, it's only polite to ask a member of staff first. If a business has already enacted a ban or restriction, this should be adhered to.

Planning ahead

Something which can sometimes take a little getting used to when switching away from tobacco to e-cigs is the need for a little forward planning. While you may be used to just nipping to the shop to pick up a pack of cigarettes when you run out, with electronic cigarettes it's often not as easy as that.

Once you've been vaping for a week or two, you'll have a clearer idea of how much e-liquid you use, or how long a battery will last based on your level of use. In the shorter term, however, it's a wise idea to have a couple of bottles of e-liquid to hand, as well a couple of spare coils or cartomizers.

Depending on how heavy a vaper you are, you may find having at least one spare battery is useful. By rotating between two or more batteries, you can always have one on charge while using the other. Running out of charge at the most unhelpful moment inevitably happens to most vapers. By planning ahead and having a fully charged back-up to hand, you can easily avoid this headache.

In the early days, it's not a good idea to stock up on lots of e-liquids or carts until you're sure you like a particular flavour. Similarly, while it's a good plan to have a spare battery or two to rotate between, stocking up on lots of batteries you won't use for a while can lead to problems further down the line.

Batteries will gradually deplete over time, even when not being used. If a battery is left unused for a long periods of time, there is a risk that it will discharge to the point where it will no longer charge back up again. Similarly, should a battery arrive with a manufacturing fault, it may take a long time for this to come to light, potentially after the warranty period has elapsed.

Compatibility

For new vapers, it may not be immediately obvious that there are differences between different product types which can and does affect compatibility. Certain tanks and batteries may only work with specific types of product, so it's worth your time to read up on the different types available and where your device falls within these.

The primary difference between types of tank or battery is in the connection it uses. In the past, there were a number of different connection types, and to a certain extent there still are. Some manufacturers choose to use proprietary connection types which limits their compatibility to an extreme degree. Others, such as ourselves, use standard connections which are used by the largest number of devices, which opens up a lot of options when you're looking for a new tank or battery to try out.

We use two different connection types on our devices - 808 and 510. The 808 connection is found primarily in our V3i range of batteries and cartomizers, but also in our Vgo2 batteries and tanks.

The 510 connection, which has grown to become as close to an industry standard as we've seen, is used in the rest of our range. Products which use a 510 connection include our SERIES-E, SERIES-B and the bulk of our range of tanks and clearomizers.

808 and 510 connections are not natively compatible, though there are certain adapters available which will allow you to use some specific products on a device with a different connection.

Nicotine strength

One of the things which can turn new users off of vaping is picking an e-liquid at the wrong strength to meet their needs. Too low and you'll struggle to satisfy your craving for nicotine, too high and the vape will be far too harsh for you use comfortably.

Everyone's needs will differ slightly, and some experimentation may be required to find a strength which suits your personal needs, but we can offer some broad guidelines to help you get started.

0mg - Best suited for very occasional smokers, or for those who are trying eliminate nicotine entirely. Many users choose to step down to 0mg gradually over time.

6mg - The best choice for light smokers, who we would define as smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes per day.

12mg - Best for those smoking around 10-15 cigarettes per day, and the most commonly used strength among our customers. There is a lot of crossover between those using 12mg and 18mg.

18mg - The best choice for those smoking a full pack of cigarettes per day. Some may still find this a little too strong, however, and opt to use 12mg instead.

24mg - Our strongest e-liquid, and one designed to suit very heavy smokers, or those smoking particularly strong tobacco. As part of the incoming TPD restrictions, nicotine strength in e-liquids will be limited to 20mg in future.

There are other considerations to bear in mind when making your choice as well. The power of your device, and the resistance of your coil will both also have an effect on performance (vapour production, throat hit and flavour). Sub-ohm vaping in particular will greatly increase the amount of nicotine delivered per puff, so most sub-ohm vapers will drop the strength of the e-liquid they use to accommodate for this.

Something many vapers aren't aware of is the benefit of steeping their e-liquid. Steeping is a process in which the flavour of an e-liquid develops over time. This does occur naturally in the bottle, but there are ways of helping to speed the process along.

Most of the e-liquids we stock will have undergone some degree of steeping already, though in some cases a bottle may have come from a fresh batch which hasn't had much time to develop in the bottle. In general, the longer a bottle can be steeped, the better it will taste.

If a flavour tastes a little muted, it may be an indication that the bottle needs a little steeping. One method of doing this is to simply remove the cap and leave the bottle somewhere warm and out of direct sunlight for a day or two. Agitation of the bottle (gentle shaking) or a warm water bath can also help, but aren't generally necessary.

As the e-liquid steeps, the flavour and scent will begin to mature. It's also common for the colour of the liquid to change, as the nicotine reacts to sunlight and temperature changes, generally causing the liquid to turn a little darker.

Storage

While e-cigarettes have been found to be at least 95% safer than continuing to use tobacco, it's not possible to make the claim that they 100% free from risk. They may only contain a tiny fraction of the chemicals found in a cigarette, none of which are carcinogenic, but they do contain nicotine which is a toxin. For that reason, they should be handled and stored with care.

The level of toxicity which can be ascribed to nicotine has been subject to some academic debate recently, but it's still true to say that in large enough doses it can be dangerous. For that reason, it's essential that you safely store your e-cigarette starter kits and e-liquids out of the reach of children and pets.

All of our e-liquids are fitted with child-resistant caps but caution should always be exercised. While the safe storage of e-liquids is of prime importance, it's also essential that you ensure that you store your batteries in the safest way possible.

Withdrawal

When some smokers first switch to e-cigarettes, they may find that they experience instances of nausea, or headaches. They might develop a cough or just a general feeling of being run-down. More often than not, rather than having anything to do with the e-cigarette they are using, what they are experiencing is a withdrawal from tobacco.

Quitting tobacco can bring on several symptoms, and just because an electronic cigarette is being used instead doesn't mean that all of these symptoms can be avoided.

It's very common for smokers to experience a cough in the first few weeks after stopping their use of tobacco. This is caused by the lungs beginning to clear the debris left from smoking and is entirely normal. Similarly, as you're no longer ingesting the thousands of chemicals found in a cigarette, your body will naturally begin to suffer some degree of withdrawal which can cause feelings of nausea or headaches. For most people, these symptoms will pass within a week or two, though should they continue, it's advisable to speak to your doctor.

In a small number of cases, however, it is possible to suffer an allergic reaction to one or more of the chemicals found in e-liquid. This usually related to the PG (Propylene Glycol) content in the e-liquid, and adjusting which e-liquids you choose to use is normally enough to resolve the issue.

Dehydration

Another reasonably common side-effect of vaping, but one which isn't widely discussed, is the possibility of becoming dehydrated.

PG (Propylene Glycol) naturally can lead to dehydration, which in turn can lead problems such as headaches and nausea. When vaping, it's a good idea to up your intake of water to accommodate for this.

Anything else?

The world of e-cigarettes is an incredibly wide and varied topic, and it would be impossible to hope to cover everything in one place. There are many other things about electronic cigarettes and vaping which users should know which we discuss elsewhere. We regularly update our blog, which covers industry news and product releases, but as always, you can contact our helpful customer service team if you have any further questions.

Customer Support

More JAC Vapour

Social Media

JAC Vapour UK products are not intended as a nicotine replacement therapy, nor are they a cessation device. JAC Vapour e-liquids contain no tar or tobacco. JAC Vapour products are intended for use by existing smokers aged 18 or over as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes. Not for use by children, pregnant and breastfeeding women or persons in ill health. If you are taking any medications, discuss with your doctor prior to using a JAC Vapour product. JAC Vapour products may contain nicotine which is a highly addictive substance. Do not use if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in a JAC Vapour product. Read all instructions before use. If you are unsure as to whether using an electronic cigarette is the right choice for you, please discuss with your doctor.